Here's the music to the song below.(It's slower than the actual song because this was a rehearsal recording)

FABLES (a script for children to perform)excerpt- the narrators opening

FABLES adapted and created by Marian Scadden

Aesop: Grasshopper and the Ants (You can’t play all the time) Texas: Armadillos in the Road (Some things have to be done right quick) India: The Foolish Lion and the Clever Rabbit (Intelligence is more powerful than physical strength)

SETTING: For Grasshopper and the Ants, bare stage; for Armadillos in the Road, there are cardboard depictions of: bluebonnets, Mexican Hat Flowers, Mesquite tree; for The Foolish Lion and the Clever Rabbit, bare stage.

AT RISE: All enter and sing.

ALL: (singing) COME JOIN US AS WE GO, ‘ROUND THE WORLD—IT IS SO. FABLES STORIES HEAR THE STORIES RETOLD WATCH AND SEE THEM UNFOLD AS WE TELL THEM

STORYTELLING THAT ANCIENT ART ANCIENT WISDOM WILL IMPART CULTURES FROM EVERYWHERE HAVE A LOAD OF TALES TO SHARE

JUST FOR YOU, WE PRESENT VERY SPECIAL CONTENT FABLES STORIESSTORYTIME IS RIGHT NOW,WE BEGIN WITH A BOWTHANK YOUENJOY(exit)

THANOS, MARY JO, ZAHRA: Welcome! I am here to tell you a fable. (they look at each other)

MARY JO: Wait just a cotton-picking minute. Who are y’all?

ZAHRA: I’m Zahra, and I am here to tell an ancient fable from India. (to audience) The lion terrified the other animals of the forest--

MARY JO: I’m Mary Jo! (to audience) And I’m here to tell y'all about some armadillos on a field trip--

ZAHRA: (interrupting) Stop the elephants! (brings out a program) My name is right here. I am supposed to tell a story. (Thanos and Mary Jo also bring out programs and point to their names) Oh, I see. We are all here to tell a fable. Thanos, you go first.

MARY JO: Why?

ZAHRA: He’s listed first.

MARY JO: (pointing to program) Then I’m second.

ZAHRA: Correct. Begin, Thanos. (exits)

MARY JO: (as exiting; to Thanos) And don’t take too long. We all have our stories to tell, Buddy. (exits)

THANOS: (to Mary Jo) Thanos! (to audience) My story is an Aesop’s fable about busy ants and a grasshopper.

Marian Scadden, author of stage plays, fiction for young people, and other stuff